NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT

UNCLAS VATICAN 000215 SIPDIS SIPDIS SIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VT KN PARM KNNP SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT REF: STATE 169418 ¶1. (SBU) Charge d'affaires raised issue of North Korean October 8 nuclear test with Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with States (i.e., deputy foreign minister) Pietro Parolin during an October 10 meeting on another subject. Parolin said at the time that the Holy See had not yet had time to formulate a response to the nuclear tests. Charge subsequently faxed reftel points to Parolin and the Vatican desk officer for East Asia. ¶2. (U) Separately on October 10, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy See's Secretary of State (i.e., prime minister) responded to a question on the North Korean tests by reiterating the Holy See's longstanding position against nuclear weapons. "It is clear that the Holy See is in favor, not of weapons, but of disarmament and peace" said Bertone. (On the same day, the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace released a statement expressing "full support" to a proposal to set up a working group in the United Nations to prepare a treaty to limit conventional weapons trade.) ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The Holy See -- strongly opposed to all nuclear weapons -- is certain to find the North Korean tests an ominous development, but may have reservations about saying much at this time. We will continue to press and to report further reactions. SANDROLINI